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Friday, December 28, 2007

I finished Eli's frog (not my pattern) just in time for Christmas. I put the stuffed animals in the kids stockings and was so excited to see their faces in the morning! So the first thing we let them have in the the next day was their stockings... each one took a look at the stocking, pulled the animal out of the top, threw it across the room and dug in to see what was hiding underneath :( Almost like "what's this thing blocking the access to the candy?!" So, there's my lesson... next time I'll wrap them up or something!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

So, I did one Amigurumi, and now I'm hooked! I made this little cutie for Anna for Christmas, and I'm working on a frog for Eli. This pattern was 99% my own creation, with a little insipration for the head from a camel pattern I found on the web. I cannot tell you the amount of anguish I went through to get this little guy done! Good news is that Anna got a sneak peek (accidentally) and she already wants to have it! She doesn't know its for her, so it will be a nice little suprise peeking out of her stocking Christmas morning :)

JoJo is a shy little newborn giraffe who will steal your heart! Everyone who sees him will long for a JoJo of their own. He is just the right size for play, or for a toddler to cuddle in bed - he stands about 12" tall. Pair him with a matching blanket for an excellent baby gift. He looks great made in many color combinations!

Friday, December 21, 2007

In looking for a quick and easy gift for a friend's birthday party (I had less than 24 hours to get it done) I came across the pattern for this "scarflette" or "neck scarf". This is a short scarf usually fastened with a button or pull-through that is used specifically to keep the neck warm. My friend walks outside a lot as she lives near her work, so I thought it might help keep her warm this winter! Using a smaller hook than recommended and altering the pattern slightly, this is what I ended up with.

And here's a better look at the details and the button. We did make a special trip out to buy a good coordinating button, but other than that the scarf was made out of leftover yarn, so no cost!

You may be asking yourself... Amigu-what-ee? I'm talking about Amigurumi, basically making cute stuffed animals with crochet. I got the free pattern for this caterpillar off of Crochetville's "original patterns" section. I made it for my nephew who will chew on pretty much anything he can get his little slobbery hands on! I used cotton yarn for its washability and chew-licious texture. Shhh... don't tell Kieran its stuffed with the stuffing from one of our old couch pillows (washed and dried to remove the dust and dirt I assume has gathered in there over the years, of course!). I altered the pattern listed a bit to include cotton-thread eyes and mouth. I didn't want any removable, chokable parts.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

This is the scarf I made for Anna using some leftover sport weight yarn from my stash. She loves it and it goes well with her winter coat. I may put some embellishments on it in the future as the pink didn't show up as well as I'd like.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

This scarf I made after purchasing my new favorite Crochet book - The Crochet Stitch Bible. My husband and I went to Cincinnatti for a weekend away without the kids, and I purchased this book at Borders. We also stopped at a specialty yarn shop in Indy and bought this beautiful pink mohair yarn. I put a finishing "fringe" on with two rows of some purple yarn i had inherited from a relative using the chain loop stitch. This scarf is really fun and pretty. Its light as a feather but still warm! See pattern instructions below!

Main body:Foundation Row:Using size N hook and mohair, chain 22, skip first chain, insert hook into second chain, yarn over and draw up loop, *insert hook into next chain, yarn over and draw up loop, repeat from * across. [22 loops on hook]yarn over, draw through 1 loop on hook, *yo, draw through next two loops on hook, repeat from * across until one loop remains on hook (counts as first loop for next row) [22 stitches worked]

Row 1: Skipping first stitch from foundation row, and yarn coming from back of the work, *insert hook through the middle of the next stitch, yo and draw through stitch, repeat from * across [22 loops on hook]yo, draw through 1 loop on hook, *yo, draw through next two loops on hook, repeat from * across until one loop remains on hook (counts as first loop for next row) [22 Tunisian knit stitches worked]

This is a picture of the puff-stich sweater I made for my daughter before she was born. When I found out I was pregnant, I started making this, and I was so relieved when we had a girl! Would have looked pretty silly on a boy :) It was one of the first clothing items I made and one of the most fun!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

From my Etsy store:Knits and Knots specializes in custom baby gift sets and patterns for crocheted children and baby items. Any baby gift set you see in the store can be made with a variety of fabrics, materials and/or themes. If you see a set you like, but its not quite to your tastes, just email me (knitsandknots@gmail.com) for a custom order at no extra charge! I truly enjoy putting creative energy into my products so you're not likely to see any two sets that are identical, but any previous set can be recreated if desired. I would love to create a custom order that is uniquely you!

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My goal is to create patterns and finished objects that will surpass the highest standards. Each finished object is crafted in a smoke-free environment and is pre-washed before mailing in a detergent safe for baby's skin. All patterns sold here have been tested multiple times to ensure they are correct and easy to read. A finished item may be purchased for any pattern listed; don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested in custom orders!

Thanks for visiting my site. I welcome any feedback or criticism on my work! I am by no means an expert in any area, but am seeking to grow and challenge myself constantly. I hope you enjoy what you find :) I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 (soon to be 3). I love crafting and it is my primary creative outlet! I live in central Indiana and do all of my creating in my home in my, somewhat limited, free time. I adore nature and the outdoors, and love curling up with a cup of tea and a good book.

This blog started as a place to share my creative exploits, but has since birthed a small business - Knits and Knots.

If you are interested in purchasing any of my patterns, a custom baby gift set, or any other crocheted, sewn or knit items, please contact me (knitsandknots@gmail.com) or visit my Etsy store. You can see a sampling of what is currently at my store in the sidebar, but I am always open to custom work that is not featured there. Don't forget to check out the free pattern section of the site if you are a crocheter!

From my Etsy store:Knits and Knots specializes in custom baby gift sets and patterns for crocheted children and baby items. Any baby gift set you see in the store can be made with a variety of fabrics, materials and/or themes. If you see a set you like, but its not quite to your tastes, just email me (knitsandknots@gmail.com) for a custom order at no extra charge! I truly enjoy putting creative energy into my products so you're not likely to see any two sets that are identical, but any previous set can be recreated if desired. I would love to create a custom order that is uniquely you!

______________________________________________________

My goal is to create patterns and finished objects that will surpass the highest standards. Each finished object is crafted in a smoke-free environment and is pre-washed before mailing in a detergent safe for baby's skin. All patterns sold here have been tested multiple times to ensure they are correct and easy to read. A finished item may be purchased for any pattern listed; don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested in custom orders!